SITE ANALYSIS 3a

ARCHITECTURE 2201
Architectural Design I
Fall Semester 2015

SITE ANALYSIS

We will visit the site as a class on Friday, September 25th. You should do some
preliminary research ahead of time to become familiar with the site and program for this
semester’s project.

On Friday, we will meet at the Chess Pavilion, just south of North Avenue Beach, along
the Chicago lakefront. Please plan your transportation to the site ahead of time. Bring
your sketchbook, including preliminary research, drawing utensils, a camera, and copies
of the site plans. Wear comfortable shoes for walking. Dress accordingly, as we will be
doing our site analysis regardless of weather conditions.

Meeting Point: Lakefront Chess Pavilion

SITE VISIT MEETING TIMES : FRIDAY SEPT 25th
Meeting Time: 1: 15pm at the Chess Pavilion (class 1:15pm – 4:15pm)
Alternate: 12:15pm – Corner Bakery at Ogilvie Transportation Center
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/GnPPE

SITE CONTEXT

Aerial Context Image

Aerial Context Image

Latitude and Longitude: 41° 54’N, 87° 37’W

Site Area: 39,950 SF (.92 Acres)
Site: looking Northeast
View from site looking south

Site: looking Southeast with site in immediate foreground

COMPLETE BEFORE SITE VISIT CLASS (Individual)
 Read the Ecology Center program (posted on course website)
 Read the articles posted in the site research reading folder (shared drive)
 Create a notated plan with observations and assumptions (to be verified on site)

COMPLETE DURING SITE VISIT (Individual)

 Min of 4 site diagrams documenting existing site conditions. Diagrams should be
drawn in your sketchbook. Diagrams must be detailed, thorough, and well
drawn. One of the four diagrams must be a site section (Cut from the water to
the pedestrian path)
 Min of 2 site sketches. Must be drawn on site.
 List of challenges and opportunities (pro’s and con’s)
 Min. of 2 (max 4) site photos that capture the spirit of the site through
photography. Your photos should define the character of the site through creative
photography.

GROUP PROJECT
 1:30 scale Site Model

FINAL SITE ANALYSIS: DUE FRIDAY OCTOBER 2nd

INDIVIDUAL: ANALYSIS BOARD
Each student will submit one presentation board with the following information:
 Min of 4 site diagrams
 Min of 2 site sketches. Sketches must be drawn on site for this presentation.
Scan and print site sketches and mount on presentation boards for this
assignment.
 List of challenges and opportunities
 Min of 2 (max 4) site character photographs
 Historical Research and Analysis of the site / lakefront

All diagrams must be well drawn and well presented, and must be drawn by hand for
this presentation. Pay attention to presentation, line work and lettering. All drawings
should have a graphic scale, north arrow, and appropriate hand lettered labels.

Diagrams should be thorough and communicate a depth of analysis.

GROUP: SITE MODEL

Models should be constructed out of white museum board and have a wood base.
DIAGRAMS TO CONSIDER
The following is a list of ideas to consider when performing your site analysis:

Traffic Flows: (Existing and Future)

Vehicular
Pedestrian
Bicycle
Connections to existing pathways (vehicular, pedestrian, lakefront, city, etc)

Site and Natural Features:

Water
Wind
Sun Angles / Shadows
Trees / Landscaping
Hardscape / Man-made Objects
Program / Site Usage (active vs. passive)
Relationship between elements in plan and SECTION!

Program:
Program / Site Usage (active vs. passive)
(active vs. passive)
public / private
nodes and destinations (high traffic / low traffic)

Context:
What is nearby? (within the park, outside the park)
How does site relate to immediate context?
How does site fit into the greater urban fabric?
What role does it play (or could it play) in the city?
Social or Political Context?
Historical Context
Grade Evaluation Sheet –SITE ANALYSIS

Name:

SITE ANALYSIS DIAGRAMS (INDIVIDUAL)

Minimum of 4. Diagrams are complete, accurate, and / 20
1 2 3 4 5
thorough. Analysis diagrams are well drawn and
communicate an effective depth of analysis.
SITE SKETCHES (INDIVIDUAL)
Minimum of 2. Perspective sketch accurately depict the / 10
1 2 3 4 5
spatial qualities of the site. Accuracy, neatness, and graphic
quality.
SITE CHARACTER PHOTOS (INDIVIDUAL)
Minimum of 2. Effective use of photography to capture the / 10
1 2 3 4 5
spirit of place through photography. Photographs
communicate the character of the site.
HISTORICAL RESEARCH (INDIVIDUAL)
Thorough documentation of the history of the site 1 2 3 4 5 / 10
communicated graphically and through text.

MODEL (GROUP)
Model completeness, accuracy, neatness and craftsmanship. 1 2 3 4 5
/ 50

Grade / 100

1=Poor 2=Fair 3=Average 4=Good 5=Excellent

Comments:
SITE ANALYSIS CHECKLIST (BEFORE SITE VISIT)

_____ Read the Ecology Center Program

_____ Read the articles posted in the site research reading folder (shared drive)

_____ Annotated plan with initial assumptions and questions

_____ Historical analysis of the site / lakefront

SITE ANALYSIS CHECKLIST (ON SITE)

_____ Water edge condition

_____ LSD / Relationship / Scale

_____ Views / Lines of Sight (both into and from site)

_____ Movement (observation of adjacent movement)

_____ Social Context

_____ Site Section (pay attention to the grade and level changes from the water edge
through and including the immediate site)

Nature / Environment / Place

_____ Sun (light)
_____ Wind
_____ Water
_____ Natural Areas
_____ Etc. (other important natural phenomena)

_____ Walk around all sides of the site to have a thorough understanding of the context
from all vantage / entry points.

What does it mean to design and ecology center? On a lakefront site? With an urban
context? At the threshold of the Lake and the city? In 2015? Considering the site’s
physical, cultural, political and social history?

Record your analysis in your sketchbook using graphic diagrams and notes.